Jokingly, I have sometimes commented any divorce possibilities for Dear Hubby and me will commence on a road trip.

Similar in a multitude of ways, we part company seriously when it comes to driving and the abundant choices that come with the highways to be traveled, especially in unknown territories. Thankfully, our initial prayer upon entering the vehicle and putting on our seat belts begs for divine assistance, angelic presence and generalized removal from all possibility of injury—ours and others. We are happily ensconced in God’s presence. A GPS is unnecessary!

The cooler days of fall make for great working weather with the lower temperatures and humidity. For many who hail from colder climes, pruning trees and shrubs is on the list of chores, but our erratic fall and winter temperatures make heavy fall pruning a bad idea.

Many gardeners like to have a list of things to do for the start of each month. Hopefully, they will be able to check off the list before the month is up and this will provide them with a sense of accomplishment.

Others need to have a list just to remind them of gardening things to do before the weather sets in and it is too late. Whatever the reasons, you need to tack a list to the refrigerator as a reminder. I offer these suggestions for things to do this month:

From motor oil to bird droppings to pesticides, pollutants have to go somewhere when it rains. Usually it’s a quick trip to a nearby stream, river or lake. But it doesn’t have to be.

As the population increases, and there’s more growth, there are more rooftops and driveways. The water has to go somewhere. In most cases, it goes directly into a stream really fast with whatever is in it.

Weeks have now elapsed since my unfortunate fall. And all is not yet well.

My first response to the dilemma was quite positive, I believe. Adjustment to being joined at the hip to an obliging mate came with a fair degree of ease. I convinced myself the persistent presence would be both beneficial and reassuring. I could do this. It might take some effort, but it was not beyond my reach... or stretch.

Brunswick County residents came out to celebrate diversity Sunday, Oct. 4, at the fifth annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival. The festival was at Brunswick Community College and featured song, dance, food and crafts that celebrated the world's cultures.

The winner was Windsor’s Cabinetry in Greensboro, which also has an office in Shallotte that has installed cabinets in numerous homes in Brunswick County communities such as Seascape, Seawatch, St. James, River’s Edge and Holden and Ocean Isle beaches.

In fact, the Shallotte team’s work has been featured in three local award-winning homes in previous Brunswick County Parades of Homes.

On Oct. 9, the moon will get a new crater. The crater will not come from the normal source, such as a meteor hitting the surface. This time the crater will be an artificial depression.

The crater will be just a bit of cosmic surgery on the face of the old man in the moon, just below his chin.

The real reason for the new crater is to answer the age-old question: “Just how much water is on the moon?” The estimated quantity of water is believed to be 32 ounces per ton of top layer soil; equating to the driest Earth desert.

You can tie the landscape together with short, squat trees. Another problem commonly encountered when designing small spots is finding a way to provide low, space-conscious structure with trees that carry the bulk of their mass below eye level.

These trees are often important in tying together the landscape and connecting it to water features, garden art, and hardscaping. Their low visual center of gravity—typically from squat or weeping shapes­—makes this possible.

Early October marks the beginning of the season for an old southern garden favorite—camellia.

It blooms in shades of red, pink and white open on large, evergreen shrubs with glossy, dark-green foliage. The flowers you’re seeing now are what the locals call “sasanquas” or just the “fall camellias.”

Throughout the winter and into early spring, the common camellia (Camellia japonica) provides a show with blooms that are so perfect they could be computer-generated.

Years ago, my husband was given a piece of advice that was comforting and challenging. When he spoke of a family dilemma, a friend told him to pray for someone to cross his relative’s path. Pray for the emergence of a person who would effect a change that was beyond the family’s ability. He did. The person appeared. Change began.

Sammy (ID No. A011411) is a female, tricolor Catahoula Leopard Hound. The staff at Brunswick County Animal Shelter thinks she’s about two years old. She has been at the shelter since Sept. 8. The shelter’s adoption fees are based on age. Adoption fees for dogs are $65 for ages six months or older, and $46 for dogs five months old or younger. Fees include rabies shot, physical exam, heartworm test (for older dogs only) and spay or neuter. Female cats and kittens, $55; includes physical exam, feline leukemia/FIV (feline HIV) tests, rabies vaccination and spay surgery.

She’s been a commercial airline pilot for more than 25 years, a Harley-Davidson biker for 40 years and recently made the move with her retired husband, Reggie, to their dream home in Lockwood Folly.

Now, she’s added “cancer survivor” to her list of accomplishments and says she has a “calling” to promote breast cancer awareness and fight the disease she was lucky enough to beat. On Nov. 14, she and her fellow bikers will take to the streets to benefit breast cancer research.